Chrysanthemum plant named `Stunning Lynn`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Stunning Lynn particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; dusty-rose ray floret color in the red group, with greyed-purple center of the flower; diameter across face of capitulum of 51 to 60 mm when fully opened; branching pattern is spreading and prolific, with 7 to 9 laterals developing after pinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings; natural season flower date of August 27 to September 5 when planting rooted cuttings on June 17 to 21 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 20 to 30 when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to 18 in Hightstown, N.J.; plant height of 23 to 25 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Stunning Lynn.

Stunning Lynn, identified as 7977 (88-264P01), is a product of a mutation induction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by inventor Leon Glicenstein on Sep. 1, 1993 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plans which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 2000 rads in Fort Myers, Fla. on Jan. 28, 1993. The irradiated parent cultivar was the cultivar Royal Lynn, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,979 and described as a flat decorative garden mum with purple flower color with red-purple center of the flower.

The irradiation program resulting in Stunning Lynn had as its primary objective the expansion of color ranges of the cultivar Lynn, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,171 and the parent cultivar Royal Lynn. The irradiation program comprised irradiation of cuttings of the parent cultivar at irradiation levels of 1500, 1750 and 2000 rads. A total of 602 cuttings harvested from a total of 225 irradiated plants were planted on Jun. 21, 1993. Of these, 2 initial selections were made, which selections were then revegetated and reflowered. Three consecutive flowerings resulted in discarding one selection on Oct. 17, 1994. The one remaining selection was maintained as a PI (Posible Introduction) and was further trialed in Salinas, Calif., Hightstown, N.J. and Leamington, Ontario, Canada, ultimately resulting in the decision to introduce this selection as Stunning Lynn.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Stunning Lynn was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in November of 1993 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under supervision of Leon Glicenstein.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of combination plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Stunning Lynn are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Stunning Lynn has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in controlled open areas in Salinas, Calif., and in Hightstown, N.J. Rooted cuttings were established in soil and maintained outdoors under the natural temperature and daylength prevailing during June through October.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Stunning Lynn, which, in combination, distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. Dusty-rose ray floret color in the red group, with greyed-purple in the center of the flower.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 51 to 60 mm when fully opened.

5. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific,with 7 to 9 laterals developing after pinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings.

6. Natural season flower date of August 27 to September 5 when planting rooted cuttings on June 17 to 21 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 20 to 30 when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to 18 in Hightstown, N.J.

7. Plant height of 23 to 25 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators.

8. Durable, uniform performance.

The accompanying photographic drawing is a color photograph of Stunning Lynn grown as a pinched garden mum under natural season outside conditions in Salinas, Calif., with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type. Plants were grown outside and dug and transplanted in 15 cm pots for photography purposes.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Stunning Lynn are the parent cultivar Royal Lynn and the grandparent cultivar Lynn. All traits of Stunning Lynn are similar to those of Royal Lynn and Lynn, except for the ray floret color. The ray floret color of Stunning Lynn is described as dusty-rose in the red groups (R.H.S. 54C to 54D) with greyed-purple center of the flower (R.H.S. 186B), while the ray floret color of Lynn is described as light purple (R.H.S. 75B to 75C), and the ray floret color of Royal Lynn is 75A (outer petals), 70B (inner petals). Stunning Lynn is distinguished from Soft Lynn, a mutation of Lynn disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,898, by ray floret color, and by the faster flowering response and shorter plant height of Soft Lynn.

In the following description color references are made the The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined on plant material grown as a pinched garden mum grown outdoors in Salinas, Calif. on Sep. 1, 1995.

Classification

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Stunning Lynn.

Commercial.--Flat decorative garden mum.

Inflorescence

A. Capitulum

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--51 to 60 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Dusty-rose in the red group, with greyed-purple in the center of the flower.

Color (upper surface).--54C to 54D, with center of the flower closest to 186B.

Color (under surface).--54D, overlaid with 186B.

Shape.--Cross-section of young ray florets concave, longitudinal section of outer ray florets convex. Ray floret tips emarginate.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--9A.

Color (immature).--144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; very few, no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

Plant

A. General appearance:

Height.--23 to 25 cm when fully grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific,with 7 to 9 laterals developing after pinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Small, lobed, slightly serrated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Stunning Lynn, as described and illustrated. 